Euro 2024: It is Spain but pain for Germany

It is Spain but pain for Germany as hosts exit the Euros tournament, marking an unwanted record… 

Euro 2024 keeps the thrill going but sadly not for the hosts, Germany who exit the tournament so cruelly in extra time thanks to an unlikely villain in Mikel Merino of Spain.

Fair play to Spain though, La Roja held total domination of the game throughout both halves despite Germany proving once in a while a threat on goal. But for the Germans, their leading man, Kai Havertz was totally off it when the time called for him to put the hosts ahead.

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For Spain, their only weakness however was their forward line not being clinical enough to convert the chances that came to them in the early stages of the game. Though youngster, Lamine Yamal was a highlight throughout the game, creating the chance and assist for the opener, Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams failed to live up to any impression he gave on the night.

It was midfielder, Dani Olmo who came in for Pedri that got through to breaking the German defence thanks to a timely pass by Lamine Yamal in the 51st minute. But the hosts were not one to bend that easy as second half substitute, Florian Wirtz was able to salvage the tie just before Spain could nick it in 90-minutes.

Wirtz timely intervention forced the tie into extra time, but neither his goal nor Germany’s resilience could force the game past extra time nor dispatch Spain, thanks to a late strike Mikel Merino to return La Roja once more, the lead.

The victory however is a bitter-sweet one for Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal who got sent off shortly before the final whistle for a tactical foul on Jamal Musiala who had a chance through on goal for Germany.